The National tribune., 1887-09-08
GEN. BUTLER
Makes a Picturesque speech to the Soldiers at
Boston.

Boston.
Last week the Butler Club" OF Boston gave
dinner complimentary to the soldiers of the
army OF the Union. and in commemoration of
the anniversary Of the capture of Fort Hatter1s,
which was accomplished by the land and naval
forces under the command Of Gen. Butler, and
which, by the way, was about the first signal
victory won by the Union forces. The appear
ance of Gen. Butler was the signal for royal
welcome by the large number of gentlemen in
attendance. Not for many day has the Gen
eral appeared in better health, and as he moved
around among the members of the club and
their guests shaking hands here aud speaking
pleasant words there, he was the cynOsure of
! all eyes. The leading feature OF the occasion
was the speech of Gen. Butler who was pre-
scented with neat address by Col. \. A.
Plympton. Gen. Batter was received with
tempestuous applause. Among other things
he said:
The condition fthe people IL that Of the utmost
prosperity. True the drouih has destroyed many
tons of hay. But what - that but a drop In the
bucket Of the great goodness OF God this country
in the productions Of the earth. No famine can
rise again in this land for what is wanting in
one part will be supplied in another. One Of the
great things through which the human race has
been heretofore diminished has been famine. But
that has been entirely oblitenated by the transmits
sion OF crops by the vessel and the railroad.
Another Is pestilence and science j. fast wiping
that out The last IS war, and that will never. in
my judgment, be wiped out n depletor of the
human race War makes emphatically the survival
of the fittest War puriies aud does not diminish
Nations. The men-the boys born ia war who are
10 become men-are better than those born in the
quiet S1peace. and God has arranged IT, While
| in times of peace per cent. more women than
men are born, in war per cent more men than
women are born IL is the divine order of nature.
Loud applause and laughier.l Do not be afraid,
my friends, that shall trouble you with financial
argument. Far be 10 from me to do that Every
theory of finance that ever had has been accepted
over 20 years too early. [Cries of Good and
laughter
After briefly discussing the financial situation
he continued:
Therefore things lanquish-everything Is brought
TO its lowest ebb. Therefore may look out, un-
less there is some chance for hard Winter for the
laborng man, and n harder Winter for those who
| produce. Now, the question is, how is the money
| To be got out of the Treasury? Everybody says,
On, if it could only be got outl" But how can we
get 1t out IL ought to be got out consistently, with
justice fairness. right and ia a manner to dis
/ tribute II among the whole people and not among
the bankers, to be loaned to the whole people.
When we were carrying on this war the Nation
/ borrowed money upon its bonds from the bankers,
and the bankers-we may now speak without Of
| fense-made the best bargain they could and the
Nation owed them debt which 1t promised to pay
ia gold We have paid every dollar OF it that IS
due and the bOndhoider won't take what Is not
/ due. We made promise TO pledge portion OF
| our revenue TO redeem this debt but I hold that
| the man who won't take pay for my note ought TO
| give up the collateral security. iIaughter.l The
soldier had debt. the consideration of which was
|
a debt against the Nation a. any debt could be- and
we took our pay in greenbacks. Now. distribute
| this extra money among ms, and you come within
| about Is per cent. OF making the thing equal.
/ Laughter and applause.
Ia this way the money would be distributed. and
you could never 20 wrong. The man gets 1t who
| earns it. The man gets 1t who owns it. II goes to
| every village and every hamlet ia the country, and
goes through the hands of the butcher, the baker
and the candiesiick maker, and others. Before it
gets into the bank loaned out at any per cent IL is
! put into circulation.
But may reply in another way. A part Of this
money belongs TO the South. They have paid
/ taxes. They have not paid much OF IT, except in
/ whisky and tobacco, and we have consumed as
much of their tobacco aud drunk as much OF their
whisky TO pay their tax. such as il is. But am
looking at a matter Of craftsmanship by which we
can relieve the finances Of the country. want to
be just and equitable. Fifteen years ago, almost
IL years, said in Congress that looked forward
20 the day when we could give reliefto the disabled
Confederate soldiers. Applause 1 was very much
criticized ut that time FOR saying IT, and whenever
was criticized was abused. tIaughter.l / under
went the sutierings Of my class. l say the pension
Is given "A matter of reward for his valor ia tie
army. The pension is given to the disabled man
as matter Of mercy for his losses, and am ready
| here and now-whether ~ be for oblOquy for
/ prAise-to say that as soon as we have rewarded
| the men who fought for the Union then the
| surplus money OF the United States contend,
| should be taken for the purpose OF administer
ing to the interests Of the Confederate soldiers oil
the south, who were not blameabe for this war
| being brought upon Us. but were only sufferers
| by u. Applause.
| want 10 say another thing 10 my friends Of the
! North and South. We never shall be able TO re
iieve the necessities OF the wounded aud famed
Concderaies until every Union soldier is rewarded
for that, the quicker he will bring about this act o
| nagnanlmlty 70 the Southern people Good